Shambala Festival 2012

The line-up might be kept under wraps, for this Shambala's twelfth year, but this great family friendly festival promises four days of fun, with a large kids area, masses of workshops, woodland antics, crazy carnivals, roaming theatrics, and everyone in fancy dress. There's no separate arena from the campsite, and there's no restriction on alcohol.

Shambala is a family orientated festival which is held at a secret location on Bank Holiday Weekend from Thursday 23rd until Sunday 26th August 2012 with the site closing on Monday 27th at Midday.

Line-up

Latest additions are Beth Rowley, Bison, Black Roots, David J, Dizraeli and The Small Gods, DJ Dynamo, Gabby Young and Other Animals, Gadjo, Guerilla Science, Hint, Joe Driscoll & Seckou Kouyate, John Fairhurst, John Hegley, Modulate Collective, Molotov Jukebox, Oscillate Sound System, RSD, Shambala Beatbox Orchestra, Smerins Anti-Social Club, Spiro, The Boxettes, Roy Bailey & Tony Benn, Trio Manouche, and Yes Sir Boss.

The line-up includes Roots Manuva, Vieux Farka Toure, Twinkle Brothers, DJ Yoda & The Transiberian Marching Band, The Apples, The Selecter, Imperial Tiger Orchestra, Introducing plays Mr Scruff, The Haggis Horns, The Destroyers, The Magic Tombolinos, Laid Blak, Analogik, Molotov Jukebox, Ed Rush & Optical, Shackleton, Toddla T & MC DRS, Luke Vibert, Micky Finn & Aphrodite, The Nextmen feat MC Wrec, Mungos Hi Fi & Soom T, The Heatwave, Parker (DJ set), Hint, Profisee, Belleruche, Boom Monk Ben, Buggsy, Radikal Guru, Credit To The Nation, Billy Bragg, Lau, Rory Mcleod & The Familiar Strangers, Laura J Martin, The Old Dance School, The Urban Folk Quartet, We Were Evergreen, Misty's Big Adventure, The Moonflowers, and Bella Hardy.

The festival is expected to have a dozen or so stages of music programming including a main stage, lakeside stage (powered by the sun, or if Shambala isn't bathed in glorious sunshine, by a back-up bio-diesel generator), and big top, plus a roller disco, karaoke, contemporary circus performances (tightrope walking, stunning swinging trapeze, pole dancing), and loads more is sure to be planned.

Tickets

Tickets have now sold out. Ticket prices were as follows:

The full price for an adult weekend ticket is £119.
Teen (aged 15/16/17yrs) weekend ticket £79
Child (aged 5-14yrs) weekend ticket £29
Child and Teen tickets may only be purchased with adult tickets. Maximum of 2 teen tickets per adult over 21yrs.
Child under 5 Free (but must register)
Van/Car+Caravan pass £30
Car Pass £20 (one per car)
Motor cycles £5
Disabled tickets (2 for 1) Call 0844 870 0000. Valid with proof of middle or higher rate DLA support.

Tickets are e-tickets so ticket holders must make sure they have their PIN and password ready for entry. Routing passes must be placed in the windscreen before arrival on site.

There is a deposit scheme running until 14th June, where you pay 50% now and the remainder by the 1st August.

Recycling Deposit

Shambalists will be charged a refundable deposit of £10 per booking. Simply exchange a bag of recycling at the event for £10 cash or a festival pack!

The Shambala Express

The Shambala Express is a subsidised coach service from various locations around the UK, running on both Thursday and Friday again this year. This is the cheapest and most carbon-efficient way to come to the festival. The festival begins as soon as you board, with movies, BIG prize quiz(!) and a Shambala soundtrack. Departures this year from Brighton, London, Bristol, Sheffield and Birmingham and more t.b.c.

Green credentials

In 2012 the festival will once again be 99% powered by renewable energy, by the wind, sun, waste veg oil and pedalling! Lot's more eco initiatives are expected to be on site too.

On site

There are also independent films, workshops, talks and debates, comedy, a fresh organic market, fair trade coffee, practical demonstrations, speaker's corner, site art (an art trail and a range of get-involved sculptures), survival courses, a real ale and cider bar with a beer garden, multiple stages and lots of fancy dress.

In 2012 there will be new theatrical environments, proper restaurants, a solar powered wheelbarrow disco, 'ladies night' divas hidden disco, The Wandering Word with John Cooper Clarke, The Idler Academy, The Emporium Of Invaluable Insights, The New Economics Foundation, Guerilla Science, Rebel Soul, The Spiegel Tent, The Shambala Motel, The Enchanted Woodlands, The Lost Picture Show, Wild Bush Camp, and more including Shambala Springs, a new luxury spa by the lake with sand under foot, hot tubs, sauna, cold plunge pool, secret snugs of foliage and calypso.

Expect more compost loos in the campsites, more showers in the family campsite, even more art installations and sculptures, lots more stand up comedy and walkabout performers, more secret venues and hidden bars, more theatre, talks and storytellers in collaboration with Bristol Storytelling Festival, more brilliant live music and even more opportunities to get involved.

Shambolympics

Shambolympics will offer a full programme of silly events followed by an awards and closing ceremony.

Meadow

The meadow is expected to return featuring it's very own boating lake. Surrounded by trees, and only accessible over two bridges, this will become the tranquil area of the festival, with healing, workshops, sauna, hot-tubs, and possibly a small stage. The amazing art trails in the woodlands re-invents itself.

Family Camping Field

2012 will see the return of a separate Family Camping Field with dedicated hot showers and compost loos, situated next to the car park, where families will have priority parking near the festival entrance and a free wheelbarrow service. There will also be a communal BBQ on Thursday and Friday. The Family Yurt will have toddler play space, a baby-sitting club, an early evening cinema and bedtime stories with hot cocoa.

Expect other new spaces to emerge, which they probably won't tell festival goers about.

Off ground fires

This year organisers are permitting fires in the campsite as long as they are off the ground, as a trial (Fires are still not permitted in the camper van fields however).

Ethos

This small family-friendly green festival focuses on environmental issues and offers the chance to learn new skills and crafts such as silver jewellery, a lantern, or a hobbyhorse.

Kids activities

Each year Shambala offers a wealth of kids activities with a full and diverse program of activities for all ages, such as trampolines, inflatables, music workshops, circus skills, art tent with full programme each day, play equipment and swing-boats, festival newspaper team, puppet shows, cinema, co-operative games, a kitchen academy, DJing, magic, and even a bedtime story tent. Many activities will have themes around cultural awareness, and the environment.

Procession

The theme for the Shambala 2012 is 'Celebration'.

Leave the car at home

Festival-goers are encouraged to leave their cars at home and cycle to the site (while raising money for the National Cycle Network if they want to get sponsored). The initiative combines Shambala's commitment to encouraging low-impact, fun ways to travel to the event with Sustrans unquenchable enthusiasm for cycling. The professionally guided rides to the festival will depart from cities that are expected to include Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, London, Sheffield, Lechdale, Middleton Cheney, Stoke and Coventry, travelling along the National Cycle Network to the festival site in Northamtonshire. Rides range from 1 to 3 days with overnight stays at campsites along the route. Prices are not confirmed, last year's prices were 1 day rides cost £10, 2 days £15, and 3 days £20. Under 18's go free. Campsite fees are not included. The first £10 of every cycle ticket goes to support Sustran's work maintaining the National Cycle Network. The remainder helps to cover costs.

Fancy dress

The festival is famous for its outrageous fancy dress for the festival's customary Saturday night parade - everyone joins in on this.

More information will be here when available.

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